Department of Numbers

Chico, California Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Chico rose 0.1 percentage points in May 2023 to 5.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points higher than the California rate. The unemployment rate in Chico peaked in April 2020 at 16.5% and is now 11.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.2% in May 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.8 percentage points. You can also compare Chico unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% +0.3 +0.1
California 4.5% 0.0 +0.5
Chico 5.0% +0.1 +0.8
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with May 2023 data as June metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Chico, California, National

Chico, California monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Chico, California Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Chico peaked in April 2020 at 15,287. There are now 10,631 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 3,847 in May 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 809. Chico employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Chico, California) is also available.

Unemployed Persons May 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Chico 4,656 +163 +809

Number of Unemployed Persons

Chico, California Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
California
Unemployment Rate
Chico
Unemployment Rate
Chico
Unemployed
June
2023
3.6%
May
2023
3.7% 4.5% 5.0% 4,656
April
2023
3.4% 4.5% 4.9% 4,493
March
2023
3.5% 4.4% 4.8% 4,407
February
2023
3.6% 4.4% 4.7% 4,315
January
2023
3.4% 4.2% 4.6% 4,235
December
2022
3.5% 4.1% 4.6% 4,205
November
2022
3.6% 4.1% 4.6% 4,222
October
2022
3.7% 4.1% 4.6% 4,219
September
2022
3.5% 4.0% 4.5% 4,138
August
2022
3.7% 3.8% 4.4% 4,023
July
2022
3.5% 3.8% 4.3% 3,915

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.